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The Firm Next Door: Using Satellite Images to Study Local Information Advantage

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  • JUNG KOO KANG
  • LORIEN STICE‐LAWRENCE
  • YU TING FORESTER WONG

Abstract

We use novel satellite data that track the number of cars in the parking lots of 92,668 stores for 71 publicly listed U.S. retailers to study the local information advantage of institutional investors. We establish car counts as a timely measure of store‐level performance and find that institutional investors adjust their holdings in response to the performance of local stores, and that these trades are profitable on average. These results suggest that local investors have an advantage when processing information about nearby operations. However, some institutional investors do not adjust for the quality of their local information and continue to rely on local signals even when they are poor predictors of firm performance and returns. This overreliance on poor local information is reduced for institutional investors with greater industry expertise and those with greater incentives to maximize short‐term trading profits.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung Koo Kang & Lorien Stice‐Lawrence & Yu Ting Forester Wong, 2021. "The Firm Next Door: Using Satellite Images to Study Local Information Advantage," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 713-750, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:59:y:2021:i:2:p:713-750
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12360
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. William C Gerken & Marcus O Painter & Itay Goldstein, 2023. "The Value of Differing Points of View: Evidence from Financial Analysts’ Geographic Diversity," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(2), pages 409-449.
    2. Dichev, Ilia D. & Qian, Jingyi, 2022. "The benefits of transaction-level data: The case of NielsenIQ scanner data," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(1).
    3. Gu, Yu & Dai, Jun & Vasarhelyi, Miklos A., 2023. "Audit 4.0-based ESG assurance: An example of using satellite images on GHG emissions," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    4. Elizabeth Blankespoor & Bradley E. Hendricks & Joseph Piotroski & Christina Synn, 2022. "Real-time revenue and firm disclosure," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 1079-1116, September.
    5. Bin Li & Mohan Venkatachalam, 2022. "Leveraging Big Data to Study Information Dissemination of Material Firm Events," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), pages 565-606, May.
    6. Lorien Stice-Lawrence, 2022. "Practical issues to consider when working with big data," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 1117-1124, September.
    7. Dorn, Daniel & Strobl, Günter, 2023. "Rational disposition effects: Theory and evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

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